Category: kingdom

Rejoice

Ruth Kirk

Here is a recording of today’s prayer: Rejoice

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior (Habakkuk 3:17; NIV).

No matter what befalls me, Lord,
May I rejoice in you;
And when I suffer pain or loss,
May I rejoice in you.

No matter how depressed I am,
May I rejoice in you;
And when I’m feeling anxious, Lord,
May I rejoice in you.

When I’m in death’s dark valley, Lord,
May I rejoice in you;
Then, when I reach your Kingdom, Lord,
I will rejoice in you.

My soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation (Psalm 32:11; NIV).

References

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV). 

He will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” (Isaiah 25:7-9; NLT). 

I find you

Ruth Kirk

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10; NLT). 

Lord,
I find you in my sickness,
Grief, depression, fear and pain.
Suffering with you is freedom:
Every loss becomes a gain.

Lord,
I meet you in acceptance,
Knowing that you always care.
Suffering with you: my mission:
Every sigh becomes a prayer.

Lord,
I long to serve your kingdom.
May each hardship be a cue
To intercede for all who suffer,
As I strive to follow you.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17; NLT).
You live under the freedom of God’s grace (Romans 6:14; NLT).
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).
To live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21; ANT).
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Verse 2:
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul (Psalm 31:7; NLT).
This has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him (Philippians 1:29; CPDV).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Verse 3:
We must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22; NLT).
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).
Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him (Colossians 2:6; NLT).

Your kingdom come

Ruth Kirk
Oasis in the desert: RK.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43: 18-19; NIV). 

Thank you
That my past is done

And I can change.
Your kingdom come

Within my body, mind,
Heart, soul.

Forgive and heal me:
Make us one.

Then I will live, serve,
Die with you, and

For you, Lord:
Your kingdom come. 

Your kingdom come (Luke 11:2; NIV).

References 

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (Psalm 103: 3-5; NLT). 

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT). 

Oneness

Ruth Kirk

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Take up your cross,
And walk in Christ’s way.
Give up all selfishness:
Serve him today.

Pray all the time,
And live in God’s love.
Follow Christ’s teaching,
And strive to do good.

Walk in his light,
And share in his pain.
Dwell in his kingdom,
And welcome his reign.

Trust in his words.
Obey his commands.
Rejoice in his Spirit,
And dwell in his hands.

Grow like God’s Son.
Give thanks without cease.
Forgive those who hurt you,
And dwell in his peace.

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NIV).

Our darkness

Ruth Kirk

He makes darkness His secret place (Psalm 18:11; LSV).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

God is in our darkness,
Our anguish and despair.

He never fails to help us,
To comfort us, and care.

Our darkness is his dwelling;
He bears our grief and sin.

His Spirit never leaves us,
For his kingdom is within.

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV). 

We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

References 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7; NIV).

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT). 

He bears our sins, and is pained for us (Isaiah 53:4; BST). 

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT). 

O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD lights up my darkness (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT). 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT). 

You make me hear

Ruth Kirk



He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak (Mark 7:37; JB). 

Lord,
You make me hear,
And help me speak.

Though I am nothing,
You guide me
As I seek

Your light, your truth,
Your kingdom,
And your face.

May I reflect, and spread,
Your love
And grace.

All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT). 

6.2.24: What to ask? (for J.Y.)

Ruth Kirk
The narrow gate: Ruth Kirk.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us.
(Romans 8:26; NLT).

Lord,
We don’t know what we ought to ask –
Help us to pray that peace will flood
Every heart and mind;
Every living soul:
For spreading your peace
Is our sacred role.

Lord,
We don’t know what we ought to say –
Help us to beg that love will heal
Every heart and mind;
Every wounded soul:
May spreading your love
Be our chosen goal.

Lord,
May your heavenly kingdom come,
And, on the earth, your will be done;
No more hate, or death;
No more tears, or pain:
Then, all you made
Will be “good”, again. 

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! (Genesis 1:31; NLT).

References 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NIV). 

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psalm 85:10; NIV).

18.12.23: Outer darkness

Ruth Kirk

Hello, everyone. I apologise for having accidentally posted an unfinished version of this blog earlier this evening.

Last night I was woken at about 5am by a roar like the sound of a whirlwind. It was so powerful that the house seemed to shake, as if it might be lifted off the ground. I began to pray, and this is what I received:

Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 8:12; AFV).

What does it mean to be “cast into outer darkness”?

Being cast into outer darkness means being separated from our Maker forever. Instead, let’s pray that we will remain united with Him from before our birth, and throughout our lives. Then, beyond death, our souls will go straight back to Him, and we will be carried in His arms, close to His breast, for all eternity.

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; TJB).

References

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

Remember him – before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:10-11; NIV).

What is the hope of the sinner when he is cut off, when God takes back his soul? (Job 27:8; BBE).

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me (John 17:21; NLT).

He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him (1 Thessalonians 5:10; GWT).

His soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side (Luke 16:23; NLT).

There is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there (Luke 16:26; NLT).

20.11.23: Glory

Ruth Kirk

✝️  Glory in God’s holy name; let the hearts that seek YHWH rejoice! Turn to YHWH – to God’s strength – and seek God’s presence constantly (Psalm 105:3-4; TIB).

Let’s glory in God’s holy name:
May every heart that seeks the Lord
Rejoice!

Let’s turn towards His perfect strength:
Safe in His presence, always,
Day and night.

Let’s live in love for everyone:
Then we will live in God,
And He, in us.

Let’s dwell in heaven, here, on earth:
His kingdom within us,
Walking in His light.

✝️  Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).

References 

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7; NLT).

You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues (Psalm 31:20; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT). 

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

27.8.23: My heart returns

Ruth Kirk
cowins: Pixabay.

The very moment I began to pray early yesterday morning, these verses hijacked me completely.

Sinners will return to you (Psalm 51:13; ESV). 

Lord,
My heart returns to you
Each day when I awake,
For you are Christ, the King of kings,
Who suffered for my sake.

Lord,
My mind returns to you
Each day as it grows light,
For you love all, so even I
Am precious in your sight.

Lord,
My gaze returns to you
Each day: I persevere
In seeking out your Spirit,
For I know that you are near.

Lord,
My soul returns to you
Each day until my death,
Then we will reunite at last,
For I, Lord, am your breath.

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV). 

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).